The invention relates to the provision of a playmate and also a toy which includes a playmate and articles to be placed thereon in play. The playmat includes at least a portion, more typically a layer, of a magnetic or magnetically attractive material such as a metalised compound. The articles include magnetic or magnetically attractive material therein such that when the child brings the article into proximity with the playmate a magnetic field is created which acts to retain the article in position where placed by the child. The article is retained at that location until the child exerts a movement force on the article to overcome the magnetic force.